The Seven Series: Envy

This is Nonchalant Gourmand at his extreme creativity (you could call it an inspiration, master chef style), an experiment which fuses food, lifestyle and a single ingredient in seven different ways. The seven series will introduce you to the diabolical seven sins using seven different varieties of the forbidden fruit which play a major part as an ingredient, manipulated to play a pivotal role in each of the seven dishes.

The first in its course is the singularly evil sin: Envy

Envy is one of the emotions which afflict the most amount of unhappiness in a person. I have seen people crumble to dust when hit by this emotion and there is very little one can do to control it. Our social upbringing is such that a person’s “need” is always dependent on what another possesses. Why so? Can an individual not be happy with what has been bestowed upon him?

Physical appearance, social standing, monetary strength and talent, all these qualities are balanced out in an individual to such precision that no two people are alike but the sad part being – comparison. When two individuals connect and this comparison comes into the limelight, envy sets in.

Some may have more of any of these qualities, and alternately a little less of the same, but it’s so well thought out, that you can have a balance of all four and hone your best one to stand out amongst the others. This is what makes a complete person. The moment you stand by and compare your shortcomings is when you are in trouble.

The forbidden fruit variety of the first kind is the Granny Smith Apple. A deliciously sinful green toned apple, the color of envy, makes up a juicy base for the first course – A cocktail. This apple is perfect for a cocktail for its juice content, the right amount of sourness which provides the tang and goes perfectly with a mix of mint and limes to give a refreshing drink. This apple is also used predominantly in pies, but I love to chop them up and use it with any form of alcohol.

The Apple’ito

A tart drink fusing together fruit, sweet white alcohol and citrus to cool you down on hot summer evenings, even though rum is not a summer drink, the citrus and the fruit keep you hydrated and fresh enough to have one too many.

Ingredients

• 1 Granny Smith Apple (diced into small cubes, keep aside few slices for the garnish)
• 60ml White Rum
• 1 tablsp Sugar
• A small bunch Mint leaves
• 1 Lime (sliced into roundels)
• Sparkling water or Apple Juice
• Ice
• Powdered Sugar and Mint Syrup to rim the glass

Rim an old fashioned glass with mint syrup and dip into a saucer filled with powdered sugar, chill the glass till required. [One apple can make a jar full of Mojito]

In a pestle, crush – mint, lime slices, a few diced apples and sugar, just enough to release the juices and melt the sugar. Spoon into the rimmed glass and top with ice; top up with your favorite sparkler or apple juice and serve chilled.

You can also look at this sin another way, a little envy could drive you to take a careful glimpse at yourself and see your shortcomings in a positive way, maybe one can develop a sense of competition and strive to better a quality, after all, life is all about bringing out the best in you! As long as you don’t cross the border to unhappiness, an indulgence in this sin is worth keeping in mind.

Watch out tomorrow for another sinful post…